Bathroom

Water Efficiency Tips: Bathroom

Of the 63 gallons of water we use each day indoors, approximately half is used in the bathroom for bathing and flushing. A lot of that water and the energy used to pump, treat, and heat the water is needlessly washed down the drain due to inefficient fixtures, leaks, and wasteful habits. By replacing water-using fixtures in the home with low-flow fixtures, you can cut your indoor water use by 35 percent. Just by replacing a showerhead with a water-efficient showerhead, your family could save up to $70 a year in water and energy costs and save enough electricity to power your home for 13 days! Imagine how much more you could save by retrofitting your entire bathroom with water-efficient fixtures, fixing leaks, and improving wasteful habits.

Need a change? Go retro.

Retrofit your bathroom with WaterSense certified showerheads, faucets, and toilets. WaterSense, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), certifies water-efficient products that have been independently tested to ensure water savings without sacrificing performance or quality. WaterSense certified products include many brands and styles and are available at a variety of price levels. Look for the WaterSense label at your local retailer or go to http://www.epa.gov/watersense/ learn more.

By installing a water-efficient showerhead that uses no more than 2 gallons per minute, your family will save approximately 28,000 gallons of water per year. There is no need to worry about the performance of low-flow showerheads. Just look for the WaterSense label. WaterSense tested and certified showerheads are designed to use less water and still provide the same invigorating spray as their water-wasting counterparts.

Install new water-efficient toilets that use a maximum of 1.28 gal/flush (4.8L/flush) or dual-flush toilets, which offer a choice between the 1.6-gallon flush for solid wastes and a 1.0-gallon flush for liquid only. A family of four could save up to $90 on its yearly water bill.

Install water-efficient bathroom faucets that use no more than 1.5 gallons per minute or instead, for only a couple of dollars, install low-flow faucet aerators. These devices are readily available at most hardware and building supply stores.

Give your bathroom a tune-up.

For tips and tricks for detecting and repairing leaks in the bathroom click here.

How low can you flow?

Shut off water when not in use, such as when you brush your teeth or shave, and save up to 300 gallons per month.

Avoid unnecessary toilet flushing by disposing of tissues and other items in the trash.